FLITECONTROL FLEX Wad

New from Federal Premium in their revamped turkey shotshell wads...neat idea

FLITECONTROL FLEX Wad

All of the new offerings use the FLITECONTROL FLEX wad, which was introduced with the launch of Federal Premium’s redesigned Black Cloud waterfowl shotshells. As shown in the illustration below, the wad’s unique design improves pattern density and consistency when fired through ported and non-ported chokes.

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“The wad’s redesigned rear-deploying brake fins and side-mounted vents stimulate the payload for separation from the wad at precisely the right moment for the densest, most consistent patterns possible,” said Dan Compton, Shotshell Product Line Manager.

To do this, Federal Premium engineers beefed up the wad’s brake system, starting by reinforcing the wad’s flexible rear fins with sturdy supportive gussets. Compton said: “We rely on gas pressure from inside the barrel to flex the fins and open them, which triggers the shot to separate from the wad. If there’s not enough pressure, the wad doesn’t slow down enough for optimum separation.”

Such pressure problems are common with ported choke tubes, which vent gas to the sides before it leaves the muzzle. However, the new FLITECONTROL FLEX wad’s improved rear-deploying brake fins eliminate that concern with all chokes.

“The brake fins open, so payloads separate exactly when they’re supposed to, regardless of the gas pressure behind them,” Compton said.

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“The brake fins open, so payloads separate exactly when they’re supposed to, regardless of the gas pressure behind them,” Compton said.

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I would like to know exactly what criteria they use to determine "exactly when they are supposed to " , what is this supposed exact distance ? that they have determined .
To me it is just a lot of "marketing hyperbole ".

I am a huge fan of the flight control was if the past.so I will be trying these

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Originally Posted by jaycee

I would like to know exactly what criteria they use to determine "exactly when they are supposed to " , what is this supposed exact distance ? that they have determined .
To me it is just a lot of "marketing hyperbole ".

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One thing most people/users of shot shells forget is , that atmospheric pressure has a large effect on how shot shells pattern;
http://www.chuckhawks.com/air_pressu...t_pattern.htm- very interesting reading, for more info, just google atmospheric pressure effects on shot shell patterns.

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An important factor is how well the shot cloud leaves the wad. A.C. Jones documented particularly poor Hevi-Shot loads, where the shot became embedded into the wad, stayed with the wad and therefore unavailable to become part of the pattern.

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as an aside to this....I found a .50 Keith Nose in my possibility bag that had been there a few years in the speed loader. I fired it off in the fall and the bullet was a flyer, went way off paper. I went to see where it hit and found the wad stuck in the backstop. The wad never separated from the bullet and it carried to the finish line. Dragged it pretty far into the wood to I might add.

Lesson learned..make sure you separate the wad/sabot from the bullet before you load if they've been siting around for awhile..

So they are trying to stretch out the pattern of steel shot? I have never found pattern density to be a problem, just the lack of energy at longer ranges.

The flitecontrol wad was developed for Black Cloud.. which uses shot that is not round. They took a load that will naturally want to spread and tried to counter it by holding it together longer. The original Black Cloud is a decent shell, but has a lot of marketing mumbo jumbo attached.... to the point that the blurb on the side of the box about patterning contradicted itself.

Winchester's Blind Side is the same concept. The wads are very similar. Brownings new BXD however (Its Winchester ammo re-branded), is the first to use a full charge of standard steel shot in this wad type which would be promising for a "long range" steel load. I would try them, but I reload for the 12 and the velocities just aren't there for the 20. The choke still initiates the wad. I have already heard one report of the rounds acting like a slug out of Cylinder bore. Like an old "cut" shell.

Too fancy for me. Regular wads work fine through a Patternmaster!

I’m getting impressive 50yd patterning shooting the 3” 2oz
turkey loads through a Carlson turkey choke.

A few years back (maybe 6 -7) Federal had a turkey load with a wad similar to this. Maybe it was called flite control wad then. Anyways, it was recommended to not use ported chokes. Said so right on the box. An aftermarket choke was not required with this load. I was getting softball sized patters with a factory full choke at 20 yards. Pattern opened up to about 12-15 inches at 30 yards and was still inside 20 inches at 40 yards. Once the box was used up I switched to Remington nitro turkey loads and haven't tried anything different since in my 12 ga. Only because I am cheap and they kill turkeys dead inside 40 yards just as good as any gimmicky shell.